Best Card Games to Play on the Nintendo Switch

Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash

The Nintendo Switch is one of the most popular consoles of all time, and the number of people who have purchased it has only risen. As of March, it has sold around 84 million units, making it the second best-selling Nintendo console since the Wii. With more players on the platform, developers are more encouraged than ever to produce or port new games. One category that has showed a lot of developer and player activity is the card game genre. After all, online card games are a great way to spend time with your friends even at a distance.

But the Nintendo Switch has a lot of card games that you can try and not all of them are great. Today, we’re introducing you to some top card games to try on the console.

Are you a fan of the trading card game (TCG) format? This is a type of fantasy-
strategy game where you build decks to overpower your enemy. A well-known
example of this is Magic: The Gathering. The Nintendo Switch has such a game
called Eternal. Eternal’s goal is to reduce your opponent’s health to zero using a
combination of summon, power, and cast cards. There’s a single-player campaign
available, but the game’s highlight is its ranked matches. The leaderboard is divided
into five brackets, each one with increasingly better rewards. The goal is to reach the
top or at least, prevent yourself from falling to the bottom.

UNO is one of the few timeless games that has transcended into the digital space now that people are playing games online. Its rules are simple but you need to play smart to win. For instance, always play your higher numbered cards first and work your way down. Players are less likely to match your numbers the longer the game goes.

UNO for the Nintendo Switch speeds up your rounds with neat features such as fading out cards that can’t be played, triggering auto draws, and more. If the traditional format isn’t enough of a challenge for you, UNO rooms can also be modified to include many special rules, such as the 7-0 rule and jump-in rule. The 7-0 rule forces players to switch or rotate hands when either number is played. Meanwhile, the jump-in rule allows you to play a card of the same color and number even if it’s not your turn.

But if you’re looking for more traditional card games, then you might be the type to fancy a classic round of poker. In fact, even if you’re not confident in your poker skills, don’t worry. Anybody can learn how to win at poker if they know the right strategies. For example, one of the biggest mistakes beginners make is playing too many hands. If your chances look grim, don’t be afraid to fold.

One of the best poker games in the industry recently launched a port on the Nintendo Switch last year. Called Poker Club, this game emulates the intensity of a real poker match due to its hyper realistic mechanics. The game is built using Unreal Engine 4 — software that has high-quality photo rendering. You can join tournaments and compete with over 200 players in each one.

Exploding Kittens is considered “new” in the traditional card game category, as it was launched only in 2015. This deceptively high-thrill title has sold over nine million physical copies that a video game version of was released for the Nintendo Switch just this April. The rule is to avoid drawing an “exploding kitten” from the draw pile by manipulating the deck. You can force your opponents to draw cards, protect yourself with a diffuser, and issue other strategies. Plus, the Nintendo Switch version offers all expansion packs of the game, such as Party Pack, Betrayal Pack, and Streaking Kittens.

Whether you’re a TCG fan or a traditional card player, there’s a card game waiting for you on the Nintendo Switch. They’re available in every region on Nintendo eShop, too, so you can download them at any time.

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